Rochester Air Center

It’s that time of year! Come get your seaplane rating!

Congratulations Sam Duritza on passing your Private Pilot Flight Test!!! Awesome job!!

I flew with my oldest daughter Leslie this evening at 6pm. She started taking flight lessons in the middle of April. When she wanted to start learning to fly th...is spring I was so excited, but really tried to play it cool and not overwhelm her. I only want her to fly if she loves it, not because I do. I have to say that I am so proud!!! Exceptionally proud!!!! More than anyone can imagine. Never would I have imagined we would be here today and that I would be so blessed or fortunate to be the one who signs the pre solo documents and verify yes she's good to go. Before our flight today I did all the presolo paperwork and then I observed in the right seat as she did 6 take off and landings. In those 6 take off and landings she did 3 normal takeoff and landings, for the 4th I gave her a sim engine failure in the downwind with a simulated forced landing and on that leg the tower switched her traffic pattern from right to left to accommodate Mercy Flight landing at Strong Hospital. Next we simulated an electrical failure and asked for light gun signals and then she did the forward slip to a landing. One more lap around the traffic pattern where I pretended not to be there and she did a great landing. Then I got out. And I knew absolutely she was ready. I have soloed hundreds of people, but never my own child. I watched her taxi to runway 7, do her pretakeoff checks, then heard her get clearance for takeoff and she was airborne. Now she was committed. 3 times around in the traffic pattern with full stop landings. Her family supporting her and standing out there on the ramp. Seeing her fly solo on the same runway I did back when I was 19 was surreal and exciting. I feel so blessed to have shared this with her. She's an amazing kid, like all of my children are. But for me this was really special. It all started with my dream of flight and now she has it and knows what it's like to be up there flying a plane and see so much from above, understanding why I fly. God is so good and His plan so amazing. Never would I have guessed 26 years ago that I would have been a part of something as amazing as this!!

Congratulations to Bill Hop on earning your private pilot certificate!!!

This afternoon proved to just as good for solo as this morning with Jacob Ellis taking off for his first solo as well!! Nice job and congratulations Jacob!!

What a perfect day to solo at the RAC!! Jasón Rechichi did his first solo this morning in N904RA. Congratulations Jasón!!

Congrats Tony on your First Solo! #askmeaboutmyfirstsolo

Congratulations Jennifer Prutsman-Pfeiffer on passing your Private Pilot flight test at KRME!!! Jenn had to wait for some winds to calm a bit and then she took to the sky with mastery in all her tasks!! Her DPE was Bill Zeisnitz at Rome, NY. Awesome job Jenn! It's been a long time coming and you nailed it!!

Congratulations to Ivan M. first solo today for his Private Pilot License! Already solo’d in a glider! Wow! Great job Ivan!

Congratulations to Matt Codd on his first solo!!

My instructor would be so proud of me

Congratulations Tanner on passing your private pilot checkride today!!

Congratulations to Tyler on his first solo! Tyler was sponsored by Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 44 in Brockport and is a recipient of a Ray Aviation Scholarship provided by EAA national to fund his private pilot license. He has been actively involved in the restoration project of a donated Baby Ace experimental aircraft at Chapter 44. He also has helped with many Young Eagle flights and other events at the Chapter. RAC is honored to to be Tyler’s selected flight school to obtain his PPL! Keep up the great work Tyler!

Congratulations to Ian on his fresh SeaPlane ticket! He flew in from Kingston, NY for a #weekend rating!

Taking the girls out Zajcmaster

Congratulations Ray Whitney on your first solo this morning!

Private Pilot and Instrument Ground Schools via Zoom start in August! Private Pilot Ground School - $250 + Materials - Course will prepare you to pass the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Exam - Thursdays starting August 6 (6-9pm) for 16 weeks... - Gleim Private Pilot Kit $175 required and includes most of the items you'll need to get your certificate - Part 141 or 61 Instrument Pilot Ground School - $250 + Materials - Course will prepare you to pass the FAA Instrument Knowledge Exam - Wednesdays starting August 12 (6-9pm) for 16 weeks - Gleim Instrument Pilot Kit ($175), and paper charts/Foreflight required - Part 141 or 61 Register for either of the ground schools by calling the office at 585-328-8839 or [email protected]. Leave a voicemail if you don't reach desk staff.

Congratulations Steve Smiley on passing your Private Pilot flight test yesterday!!! Steve started flying when he was 14 back in the 1980s and worked to pay for flight instruction at Key Aviation (long ago they were a competitor of Ray Hylan flight school at Rochester). Then because of the Army and life circumstances he had to stop training. This past January he decided to take Private Pilot ground school at the RAC and then started flying again with Martha Anne on April 28,... 2020 to resume flight training. He resoloed in early June, 40 years almost to the day after he first soloed at Key Aviation!! His story is an encouragement to us all! Never give up your dream of flight. Stick with it and you will break those surly bonds of Earth! Steve's next adventure...to go pick up his new plane, a Super Cub in Santa Maria, CA. He and Martha Anne will fly it back to Canandaigua later this week! Stay tuned for more on that adventure!!